"Amusing amateur sleuth police procedural combo"
When she first accepted Jack Clancy's job offer to manage
an Ozarks retirement community, Harriet Garvey thought her
biggest problem would be boredom. However, Valhalla
Springs proves wilder than her former home Chicago. In a
very short time Harriet has been on several murder
investigations and a few other felonies. However, her
toughest problem is her deep feelings for local Sheriff
David Henderson even though the Gods must frown upon this
couple mating as coitus interruptus is the norm of their
relationship. Though she loathes Eulliy Thomlinson, Jack convinces her to
represent him at a going away party for the woman and her
spouse Chet. Everything seems okay until D.K. Bogart
starts shooting at people; Chet retaliates and kills him.
Most of Kinderhook County think Chet is a hero, but Dave
and Harriet wonder about the incident. Accompanied by her
geriatric detectives, Harriet begins to make inquiries
while Dave tries to entice her to marry him. He also
attempts to coax his love and her band of amateurs to not
investigate. WEST OF BLISS is an engaging amateur sleuth tale starring a
frustrated hero, a clever heroine, and an insane peculiar
crowd of seniors who often steal the plot. The story line
is well written, but though the mystery is delightfully
disguised, the banter between Harriet and Dave feels stale
perhaps because this is the fourth novel in two years
without enough movement in their relationship. Still
Suzann Ledbetter provides an amusing amateur sleuth police
procedural combo that now needs to move to the center of
the compass and fully explore the magnetism between the
lead duo. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted June 15, 2002
SummaryWhen thoughts of marriage turn to murder . . .
As resident manager for the exclusive retirement community
of Valhalla Springs, Hannah Garvey is up to any challenge
life throws her way -- which, lately, is usually a corpse.
But a marriage proposal from sexy lawman David Hendrickson
has her completely flummoxed. Doesn't he realize the odds
against a successful Aries-Libra match?
Then, while attending a going-away party for Eulilly and
Chet Thomlinson, even bigger questions erupt when the
restaurant dishwasher suddenly opens fire. Chet, an ex-
Secret Service agent, manages to shoot the gunman, and is
hailed a hero. The tragedy is chalked up to a case of a
disgruntled employee -- with poor Eulilly caught in the
cross fire. But David, Hannah and the erstwhile senior
sleuths of Kinderhook County think the whole incident is
just a little too cut-and-dry.
In Sanity, Missouri, ignorance is not bliss.
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